WASHINGTON — Chaplain endorsers, representing more than 2,000 military chaplains, commend the commander of Travis Air Force Base and his legal team for their decision to keep the traditional manger scene as part of the 17-year tradition of displays during the Christmas season.

“Our military personnel should not be coerced to abandon their religious heritage simply to appease someone’s political agenda,” said CH (COL) Ron Crews, an Army chaplain who served 28 years and is now executive director for the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty.

“This latest attempt by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to intimidate military personnel by threat of lawsuit must be challenged,” Crews said. “We are concerned at the apparent open access Mikey Weinstein has to senior Pentagon leaders and call for Congress to investigate his relationship, particularly to Air Force officials.”

Mikey Weinstein, an Air Force Academy graduate, has been an outspoken critic of any public display of America’s religious heritage.

“Someone must confront the assault by Mr. Weinstein on our constitutionally guaranteed religious liberties,” said Crews. “The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty will take that stand.”

The Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty is an organization of chaplain endorsers that promotes religious liberty for all those who wear our nation’s uniform. The Chaplain Alliance believes that no American should be required to yield their constitutionally guaranteed religious liberties while they serve to protect the liberty of all our citizens.